Automatic railroad switch



.1. szABo ET A1."l

AUTOMATIC RAILROAD SWITCH I ,March 29,1927.

Filed Sept. 4, 1926 Patented Mar. 29, 1927.

AUTOMATIC :RAILRCAD SWITCH.

Application.filedvSeptember 4, .1926. Serial-No.11333542.-

This invention relates to automatic .switch control apparatus `andhasfor its object to provide vcertain groups of elements which are adapted?r to co-act' .-t'oactuate a railroad switch,-`the saidgroups of elements beingof novel "foim.and` construction.

The` -apparatus yprovides means for throwing, theswitch .on the approach of a` train, or 'locomotiveand'for returning it to itsnormaldposition .whenithe last truck ofthe said train,..or locomotive has left VVthe-fpoint of conjunction .of'the railsV of the said ,switch and the main Vline tracks.

Itfurther-comprises means for a sliding leverage the-Switch lever and means for absorbing th'e shock of contact of the actuating element.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 shows an outline of a locomotive with the engineers control lever and the connecting rod and throw bar of the apparatus mounted thereon.

Fig. 2 shows a front end view of the elements illustrated in Fig. 1.

Fi 3 shows a plan view of a railroad switc with the apparatus here claimed, mounted in connection therewith.

Fig. 4 shows a side elevation of the elements illustrated in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 shows a section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 shows an enlarged fragmentary view of a. portion of the throw bar actuating mechanism.

Fig. 7 shows a front end view of the mechanism illustrated in Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 shows a fragmentary view of a form of the switch lever having sliding leverage mechanism, the elements .being somewhat enlarged.

Fig. 9 shows a view on the line 9-9 of Fig. 8.

Referring now, to Fig. 3 in particular and to Figs. 4 and 5 in conjunction therewith, the apparatus comprises a rockerk beam 10 having a toothed segment 11. This beam is mounted on a suitable base adjacent to a railroad switch 12, a lever 13 connects the said beam to the switch rod 14. The switch signal light 15 is mounted on a standard 16 w. ich is connected to the segment 11 by the gear 17. Extending from the rocking beam 10 to the right and left thereof are link rods 18 and 19 having joints as shown at 20, 21 etc. These rods are connected at their outer ends tothe connecting-levers 25 .and .26 .which areinturn connected `to theswitch levers 27 fand 28. These levers:are-prvotallywmount cd'at the-.bottom as shownat 29.-.and-3Q, and have VYfshaped contact lmembers .as-shown-at 31 and 32 at the top. These Yinembers ,are

turned .downward atthe ends as-sliown at 33, 34,35 etc. v

Now, referring to Figs. 1 and 2V of. the drawings,- tlie throw bar seenaat. 38 is suit.- ably .mounted on theengine structure as will be hereinafter described. llhisfbarl is adapted to be thrown out at either side fof the engine .by Ameansofthe connecting j rod 40 and theengineers control lever. 41s Ywhich has means to lockl it either forward or back ward, or in a central position as shown Vat 42.

The details of the throw bar mechanism as illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7 are as follows: The bar is supported by brackets as that shown at 42, these being on each side of the locomotive. At its center it is provided with a pin 43 which is located within the slot 44 of the lever 45 which is secured to the shaft 47. This shaft carries a bevel gear 48 which engages the gear 49 which is on the shaft 50 and is actuated by the gear 51 in mesh with the toothed segment 52. The said segment is mounted on the shaft 53 which is connected by the crank 54 to the connecting rod 40. Y

Now, it will be seen that when an engineer approaches the switch which he wishes to throw, he sets the lever 41 in either the forward or backward position which, acting through the rod 40 and the mechanism illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7 will thrust out the throw bar 38 toward the right or left side of the track, as desired. The throw bar will then be in position to engage one of the switch levers as shown at 27 and 28, and being in contact with the Y portion thereof will'in passing throw it over and move the switch into the desired position. The switch lever at the outgoing end, which is sufficiently far advanced to permit of the full train passing over the switch, will be thrown over as the locomotive passes it in the same inanner as first described, but as the link rod connecting it is on the reverse side of the rocking beam, the switch will be returned to its first, or normal position.

In Figs. 3 and 4, the switch levers are shown in the position in which they would stand if a train passing from left to right had left the first and was approaching the second of the said levers.

In the form of the switch lever shown in Figs. 8 and 9, the connecting member 26 is shown with the yoke 6l connected by a sliding pivot 62 which rests within the slot 63. Outside the yoke 6l is mounted on the said pivot, a sliding element 64 which is provided with rods as seen at 65 and 66. These rods are carried within the lugs as shown at 67 and 68 and are held in centralized position by the springs 69 and 70. The connecting of the lever 26 in this manner causes the power to be applied with a sliding leverage and the shock of Contact is taken up by the element 64 and its retaining springs.

While we have shown the preferred embodiment of our invention, we do not wish to be held rigidly to the exact details of form and construction as illustrated, but claim the right to such minor modifications as may come within the scope of the appended claim.

Having thus described our invention, what We claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is as follows:

In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with a railroad switch of a rocking beam therewith connected, and the said beam connected in oppoiste directions by suitable rods to switch levers set at a distance therefrom, the said switch levers each pivotally mounted on a base structure and having a main shaft which has at its upper extremity angularly disposed members adapted to receive the contact of an element projecting from a passing object, and having in the body of the said shaft a slot through which a pivot passes, the said'pivot supporting a lever of the connecting mechanism, and a sliding element mounted on the aforesaid shaft and engaging the said pivot, and tension springs secured to the said sliding element and to the said main shaft, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof we have afHXed our signatures.

JOSEPH SZABO. ALEX. LADANE. 

